Also, Clegg expressed gratitude to the president for
facilitating an executive order crucial to the landing of Meta-backed deep-sea
cable infrastructure in Nigeria.
He said the cable could result in a $37 billion economic
impact in the next two or three years in Africa.
“It is an extraordinary infrastructure project. When it
comes on stream in the first quarter of 2025, it will be twice as much as the
capacity of all subsea cables that exist,” Clegg said.
“We buried the cable
50 percent deeper than any other subsea cables under the seabed.
“It is more powerful and more extensive in terms of its
geographical connectivity.
“It could yield up to 37 billion dollars worth of increase
in economic activity in the next two or three years across the African
continent.”
NIGERIA READY TO LEAD
AFRICA IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Tinubu said Nigeria is ready to lead the African continent
in digital technology.
The president said Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind
in this age of technological advancements.
He said his administration is opening up channels of
opportunities in information and communications technology, deepening capacity,
and fostering partnerships.
In view of his administration’s three million technical
talent (3MTT) programme, Tinubu said Nigerian youths are the most critical
asset in Nigeria’s arsenal as it moves to achieve digital economic expansion.
“For us in Nigeria, we have a vibrant, gifted and
resourceful youth population. Recognizing that the future is most likely to be
AI-enabled, we have to prepare our youths and make them ready to compete and
participate in the global economy,” Tinubu said.
“I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business. We want
to lead the African continent in digital technology.
“Data is valuable to
our development. We are ready to cooperate on technological advancements. It is
the only way to go. We need a collaboration that will be a win-win for all.”
Emphasising the importance of technology in driving small
businesses, Tinubu said he is committed to ensuring that technology is
deployed, adapted, enhanced, and used to catalyse growth across a vast majority
of micro-businesses, spurring mass prosperity down the line.
“What interests me is the use of technology in the
development of small businesses. We need to make the business environment more
conducive for you and more profitable for us as well,” he said.
“I hope we can collaborate and continue to promote our
mutual interests.”
Also speaking, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications,
innovation, and digital economy, emphasised the importance of Meta platforms in
Nigeria, stressing the need for collaborative engagements to promote
development in the digital economy sector.
“We must continue to engage to create opportunities for our
people so they can also share in global prosperity,” Tijani said.
The minister said digital technology is an opportunity to
connect Africa to contribute to the development of the world.
